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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The congregants of First United Methodist Church of |
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Pampa celebrated a joyous anniversary with the commemoration of the |
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church's centennial on September 23-24, 2006; and |
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WHEREAS, First United Methodist traces its roots to five |
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charter members, Oscar and Gertrude Cousins, W. W. and Ella Harrah, |
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and the Harrahs' son, Lee; under the direction of the Reverend J. A. |
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Laney, the congregation was organized on September 29, 1906, as the |
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Methodist Episcopal Church, South, of Pampa; and |
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WHEREAS, Services were originally held at the Johnson |
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Mercantile Building and later at the local school; in 1908 the |
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congregation acquired two lots and built a one-room church, which |
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was graced with arched windows of floral, opaque glass; and |
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WHEREAS, Congregants purchased the site of the present church |
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building in 1924 and erected a typical frontier-style basement |
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church, completing the sanctuary in 1928; over the years, this |
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building at Ballard and Foster Streets has been extensively |
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remodeled, and other facilities have been added to accommodate the |
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growing membership of "the church on the corner"; and |
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WHEREAS, First United Methodist offers residents of the Pampa |
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area many opportunities for spiritual enrichment, including |
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participation in the United Methodist Women, the Kairos Prison |
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Ministry, and the Walk to Emmaus; generous in its support of |
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domestic and international mission projects, the church has |
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contributed to the work of evangelists around the world, reached |
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many members of the local community through radio broadcasts of its |
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morning services, and supported numerous other mission endeavors, |
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including the Waco Methodist Children's Home; in addition, the |
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church awards several scholarships and donates to area colleges and |
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Wesley Foundations; and |
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WHEREAS, After the population of Pampa increased more than |
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tenfold between 1920 and 1930, First United Methodist founded two |
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mission churches, which became St. Paul United Methodist and an |
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interdenominational church known as The Carpenter's House; long |
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immersed in the life of its community, First United Methodist has |
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also shared its space with such civic organizations as the Lions |
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Club, Kiwanis, Altrusa International, Inc., Meals on Wheels, and |
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the city library, the latter two of which were housed in the church |
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for some time; and |
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WHEREAS, From its beginnings, First United Methodist Church |
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has served as a source of fellowship, comfort, and guidance to its |
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members while also ministering to the needs of society at large, and |
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the congregation's rich and dynamic history is indeed deserving of |
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special recognition; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate First United Methodist Church on a |
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century of service to the Pampa community and beyond and extend to |
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all those affiliated with the church sincere best wishes for |
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continued success in the years ahead; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the church as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |
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Chisum |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 21 was adopted by the House on March |
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1, 2007, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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